Sunday Read: Still Fighting Global Corruption for ‘24
Sunday Read: NWC Still Fighting Global Corruption for ‘24
National Whistleblower Center (NWC) continues to receive recognition beyond the borders of the United States, as demonstrated in the past 12 months.
Most recently, NWC attended and presented at the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in June 2024 in Vilnius, Lithuania and the 10th Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP 10) in December 2023.
NWC is honored to attend a prestigious session on September 3 rdhosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “Non-governmental Organizations and the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.” Though it may sound self-explanatory, there is more to explore.
In this Sunday Read, we will discuss why the upcoming UNODC session is so critical and how participating in the Mechanism strengthens a growing relationship between NWC and the UN.
What is UNODC?
Created more than 25 years ago, the UNODC aims to make the world safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism, particularly in heavily affected regions and sectors. It assists countries in strengthening their legal frameworks to combat terrorism and comply with international conventions and protocols.
“Because the scale of these problems is often too great for states to confront alone, UNODC offers practical assistance and encourages transnational approaches to action,” UNODC notes on its site.
By collaborating with other UN agencies, regional organizations, and non-governmental organizations like NWC, UNODC can address cross-border issues and promote international cooperation. Among its many tasks, UNODC is responsible for supporting the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and combating corruption.
Implementation Review Mechanism
Non-governmental Organizations and the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption is detailed in UNODC Resolution 4/6. The goals of the Implementation Review Mechanism are as follows:
- Promote and facilitate the exchange of information, practices and experiences gained in the implementation of the Convention;
- Promote and facilitate international cooperation in the prevention of and the fight against corruption, including in the area of asset recovery; and
- Help States parties to identify and substantiate specific needs for technical assistance and to promote and facilitate the provision of technical assistance.
Each State party undergoes a review process conducted by two peers, one of which must be from the same regional group, to assess their level of implementation of the Convention.
This is where NWC demonstrates its value as a global leader in anti-corruption policies and actions and as an ally of the UN. The UNODC has reached out to NWC on several occasions to lend insight and expertise on policy and suggest enforcement actions. A five-person delegation from NWC will virtually attend the resumed 15th session for the Mechanism’s Implementation Review Group briefing on September 3rd, 2024.
The goal of this session is to facilitate the deliberations of the Implementation Review Group on the topics of drawing of lots, direct dialogue, information-gathering, and use of technology.
“The invitation is a huge honor,” said NWC Executive Director Siri Turner, who will attend the briefing. Also included among the delegation will be NWC Senior Wildlife and Climate Policy Advisor Scott Hajost and NWC Senior Advisor on Transnational Crime María de los Ángeles Estrada. “We welcome these important discussions and international perspectives.”
NWC’s Relationship with the UN
Attending the Mechanism in September will be another showing of unity between NWC and the UN. As previously reported, NWC sent a three-person delegation to CoSP 10 in December 2023 and was one of two statements submitted regarding whistleblowing.
“Our delegation helped to ensure that whistleblowing was a priority throughout the world’s largest global anti-corruption gathering,” Turner recalled.
The conference served as a forum for an intense review and discussion of rewards and compensation for whistleblowers. At CoSP 10, NWC spoke several times and presented written materials which educated leaders and representatives from around the world on environmental crimes, asset recovery, ownership transparency, political financing, and victims of corruption.
NWC has also been cited in UN publications and reports. On February 11th, 2022, NWC was cited in the UN Report on Human Rights Defenders. Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, and the United Nations Human Rights Council shed light on prioritizing whistleblower protection considering it is a human rights mechanism.
The report consistently recognized whistleblowers as human rights defenders and highlights insights from NWC, noting that: “…in the United States of America the treatment of whistleblowers who disclose misconduct is highly inconsistent. While whistleblowers are celebrated in certain contexts, there are several notable examples where whistleblowers have been retaliated against for coming forward.”
More International Human Rights Advocacy
Central to NWC’s mission is the preservation and advancement of human rights on a global scale. Human rights are affected by corruption in various forms — from environmental and climate risks to forced labor and discrimination.
Turner recently reinforced NWC’s position on human rights violations in the whistleblower area by consulting on a new report published by Northeastern University School of Law. International Human Rights for Whistleblowers marked the first time Northeastern Law’s Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) collated key information about the wide range of international venues and mechanisms that may be accessed by whistleblowers seeking support and vindication for their claims.
“This overview is an in-depth reflection of how whistleblowing is a major factor in effective human rights regimes and supports a larger discussion on how human rights defenders and whistleblower advocates are one and the same,” said Turner, a 2019 J.D. graduate of Northeastern.
Support NWC
NWC fights to bolster whistleblower programs and raise awareness about the value of whistleblowers. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit our work is made possible with the support of our generous donors. Please consider donating $100 today to help us continue to educate the public about whistleblower experiences and the role whistleblowers play in putting an end to fraud and money laundering. Donors of $100 or more will receive a copy of Rules for Whistleblowers: A Handbook for Doing What’s Right, written by NWC Co-Founder Stephen M. Kohn.
This story was written by Justin Smulison, a professional writer, podcaster, and event host based in New York.
